Monitor Ordered to Oversee FDNY’s Hiring

A federal judge has ordered an independent monitor to oversee the hiring practices of the New York City Fire Department, after ruling that the department had “systematically” discriminated against black and Hispanic firefighter candidates for decades.

The decision, which explicitly assails Mayor Michael Bloomberg for choosing to “ignore” the evidence of discriminatory hiring practices, calls for a court-appointed monitor to assess the recruitment, testing and hiring of entry-level firefighters for a period of at least 10 years.

Describing the FDNY as a “stubborn bastion of white male privilege,” Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered that the court continue to supervise the development and administration of the city’s exam to screen firefighter candidates. In addition, an independent monitor will review recruitment, overhaul the post-exam screening process to eradicate nepotism and ensure the FDNY complies with Equal Employment Opportunity laws.